Jennifer doubted her own eyes; this big brother was actually running towards Uncle Jack's house.
But Wen Xishu was very calm, and this calmness gave Jennifer some strength.
The corridor had turned into a looping staircase, trapping them in a ghostly loop. The real exit might be in a room on this floor.
Wen Xishu was also unsure until he saw the hint.
"There are many rooms on this floor. Searching each one could cause a commotion and waste time, but if we consider Jack's words, the correct option becomes clear."
"As always, Jack's words are actually a very clear hint."
Jack's house was indeed on this floor.
It wasn't far from Jennifer's place. This proximity made Remian, who lived upstairs, very jealous.
The door wasn't locked, half-open, with a sinister chill emanating from within, making it hard to approach.
Jack was once certainly a kindly old man.
Before becoming a monster, he trusted people here greatly, hence the unlocked door, to make it easier for others to seek his help.
There are people in this world who, despite their own poverty, find happiness in helping others.
Wen Xishu didn't delay any longer, taking Jennifer by the hand and entering the room.
As they stepped in, "Jack" appeared in the corridor.
Its face couldn't be seen, as it was covered by multiple faces of other residents.
It had torn off their faces and stitched them onto its own, like half a mask.
Four eyeballs, two crooked noses, and four oddly angled ears were sewn together with black thread.
The only thing that remained its own was the mouth, which continued to emit a maniacal laugh.
This laugh seemed to have an eerie power, spreading through every room.
Except for its own room, which remained unaffected.
Sunlight streamed into the room, but it did not make Jack's room any brighter or warmer.
On the contrary, this scant light made the gloomy room look even more desolate.
Bare, damp walls stood silently. Two old, decaying chairs in the room, unmoved by human hands, swayed slightly, emitting a teeth-grinding creak.
There was even a refrigerator in the room, but the smell coming from it was nauseating.
It was the smell of blood.
Jennifer began to shiver. Wen Xishu held her little hand, the warmth from his palm giving her a sense of security.
Up until now, Wen Xishu hadn't spoken. He simply typed calmly:
"It seems this is the audience seat prepared for us."
Wen Xishu sat down directly. In that instant, he felt as if he was lying in an ice cellar, a bone-chilling cold penetrating him.
The surrounding scenery also changed color, covered in a faint crimson. A huge, grinning face flashed in and out of his mind.
Wen Xishu remained unmoved, still beckoning Jennifer with a reassuring smile.
So, Jennifer also sat down on the chair.
The performance began.
The scene Wen Xishu saw was bizarre.
A huge smiling face overshadowed a city.
But it seemed the people in the city hadn't noticed the smile covering the sky.
The smile wasn't terrifying, it even seemed somewhat comforting. Under the smile was a city named Mo'en.
This was a young city, but the not-so-young Jack was in Mo'en City Hospital.
Since childhood, he had been taught to smile at others, to be polite, to be someone who brings joy to others.
But the terminal stomach cancer diagnosis made him unable to smile anymore.
Facing death, whether you play the role of an ox, a horse, or a salted fish in society, you will realize – you are essentially a person.
At the end of his life, Jack wanted to be a person again, to be a good person.
With the diagnosis in hand, he walked heavily back to that old building.
The room was simple to the point of absurdity: a kettle, a bed, two chairs. There was also a refrigerator that no longer cooled, having become purely a storage cabinet.
He took out an old notebook and wrote down his wishes.
"As a colleague, I really don't like Remian badmouthing me behind my back. But I think it's life that has made him need to be harsh."
"There are many kinds of outerwear in this world, some can keep you warm, some protect you from others' harm."
"Perhaps Remian wears the latter."
"I also have my own outerwear. I hope it, as my mother said, can make people happy."
"I should go reconcile with Remian. After all, we're neighbors and colleagues. At the end of my life, I don't want anyone to harbor resentment towards me."
"I just want to be remembered as a good person, whether on my tombstone or in people's memories."
Jack let out a long sigh, showing a faint smile.
"I like spending time with Little Jennifer, though Yulia always says that men nowadays shun women with children, that men are pragmatic and harsh."
"But in my heart, Little Jennifer is really adorable. She is one of the few who enjoys my performances."
"The meaning of my life is to bring laughter to others. It's just that to many people, I am meaningless."
"But Little Jennifer is different... We agreed that she would come to my place tomorrow to watch my new performance."
"The troupe is becoming less and less prosperous. I think maybe I should incorporate some stand-up comedy into my acrobatic performances."
"I'm increasingly falling behind the humor of young people, but Jennifer is even younger than them."
Thinking of Little Jennifer coming to watch his performance, Jack's smile became warmer and more comforting. Even with clown makeup, he wouldn't seem eerie, horrifying, or menacing.